Do you know what to do if there’s an emergency at home or at work? September is National Preparedness Month — here’s your chance to see how much you know and what you need to learn to be more prepared.
Test your knowledge
UW Medicine informs staff of emergencies and situations that might disrupt normal operations using alert systems.
Q: What are some good reasons for you to sign up for notifications and alerts?
a) To get immediate updates: Alerts provide real-time information about emergencies, weather conditions or other critical situations, allowing you to act quickly and appropriately.
b) To get an early warning advisory: You receive advance notice of potential threats or disasters, giving you more time to prepare or evacuate if necessary.
c) To receive information about available resources, such as emergency services, shelters or medical assistance.
d) To keep informed about local emergency situations, community response efforts and public safety announcements, fostering better coordination within your community.
e) All of the above.
The correct answer is e) All of the above! Stay informed and sign up for these alerts and early warning systems:
- STAT|INFO, a UW Medicine workforce advisory alert during emergencies and situations that might disrupt normal operations.
- UW Alert, the University of Washington’s emergency alert system.
- MyShake, an iPhone app for earthquake early warning alerts.
In the event of an emergency, having a clear family communications plan is crucial to ensure everyone’s safety and to stay connected.
Q: How can having a family communication plan help you during an emergency?
a) You’ll be able to quickly locate and ensure the safety of all family members.
b) You’ll be able to ease anxiety and confusion during crisis.
c) You’ll be able to receive quick updates and coordinate when separated
d) All of the above.
The correct answer is, you guessed it, e) All of the above. Visit ready.gov for help with developing your family communication plan.
Your entity may activate disaster plans to ensure effective response and recovery. Disaster plans provide guidance to establish clear communication channels and allocate resources to protect patients and staff. In the event of a disaster, it’s important to quickly and accurately recognize when an activation is occurring.
Q: Are you familiar with the codes used for different types of emergencies?
a) Yes
b) No
During an emergency, you may hear codes called overhead at your work location. If you answered no, here’s what you need to know: Washington State Hospital Association Emergency Code Calls cheat sheet.
Earthquakes are one of the primary natural hazards in the Pacific Northwest. It’s important to know what to do before, during and after the ground starts shaking.
Q: Which one of these should you do during an Earthquake?
a) Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
b) Drop, Cover, and Take a Nap.
c) Drop, Curl, and Lunge.
d) Drop, Crawl, and Escape.
The correct answer is a) Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
- DROP safely to your hands and knees and crawl underneath a sturdy table or desk for protection.
- COVER your head and neck with your arms.
- HOLD ON until the shaking stops; if you are under a desk or table, hold onto it with one arm and use the other to cover your head and neck.
See these recommendations for earthquake safety in other locations (such as in a car or outside) and for people who use a walker, wheelchair or cane.
After an earthquake:
- Check your space for any immediate dangers and be prepared for aftershocks.
- At work, shelter in place until given further direction. Do not go outside. Report any injuries to employees, patients and visitors to your supervisor immediately.
- Be aware of tsunamis: If you are in a tsunami hazard zone, evacuate to higher ground.
- For additional information, visit the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Want to learn more about UW Medicine Emergency Preparedness? Visit UW Medicine’s Emergency Management Personal Preparedness page (AMC login required).
